HuttenwascompelledtofleetoSwitzerland,wherehediedafewmonthslaterontheIsleofUfnau,ontheLakeofZurich。
  Withthisdefeat,andwiththedeathofbothleaders,thepowerofthenobilityasabody,independentoftheprinces,wasbroken。Fromthenonthenobilityappearedonlyintheserviceandundertheleadershipoftheprinces。ThePeasantWar,whichsoonbrokeout,drovethenoblesstillmoredeeplyunderthedirectorindirectprotectionoftheprinces。
  ItprovedthattheGermannobilitypreferredtocontinuetheexploitationofthepeasantsunderprincelysovereignty,ratherthanoverthrowtheprincesandprieststhroughanopenalliancewiththeemancipatedpeasants。
  [Topart5]
  ThePeasantWarinGermany:Chapter5FrederickEngels’
  THEPEASANTWARINGERMANYCHAPTER5
  ThePeasantWarinSuabiaandFranconiaFromthemomentwhenLuther’sdeclarationofwaragainsttheCatholichierarchysetintomotionalltheoppositionelementsofGermany,notayearpassedwithoutthepeasantscomingforthwiththeirdemands。
  Between1518and1523,onelocalrevoltfollowedanotherintheBlackForestandinupperSuabia。BeginningintheSpringof1524,theserevoltsassumedasystematiccharacter。InAprilofthatyear,thepeasantsoftheAbbeyofMarchthalrefusedserflabourandduties;inMayofthesameyear,thepeasantsofSt。Blasienrefusedserfpayments;inJune,thepeasantsofSteinheimnearMemmingendeclaredtheywouldpayneitherthetithenorotherduties;inJulyandAugust,thepeasantsofThurgaurebelledandwerequietedpartlythroughthemediationofZurich,partlythroughthebrutalityoftheconfederacywhichexecutedmanyofthem。Finally,adecisiveuprisingtookplaceintheMargraviateofStuehlingen,whichmaybelookeduponastherealbeginningofthePeasantWar。
  ThepeasantsofStuehlingensuddenlyrefuseddeliveriestotheLandgraveandassembledinstrongnumbers。OnOctober24,1524,theymovedtowardsWaldshutunderHansMuellerofBulgenbach。Heretheyorganisedanevangelicalfraternity,jointlywiththecitymiddle—class。ThelatterjoinedtheOrganisationthemorewillinglysincetheywereinconflictwiththegovernmentofUpperAustriaoverthereligiouspersecutionsoftheirpreacher,BalthaserHubmaier,afriendanddiscipleofThomasMuenzer’s。
  Auniontaxofthreekreutzerweeklywasimposed。Itwasanenormoussumforthevalueofmoneyofthattime。EmissariesweresentouttoAlsace,totheMoselle,totheentireUpperRhineandtoFranconia,tobringpeasantseverywhereintotheUnion。TheaimsoftheUnionwereproclaimedasfollows:
  abolitionoffeudalpower;destructionofallcastlesandmonasteries;
  eliminationofallmastersoutsideoftheemperor。TheGermantricolourwasthebanneroftheUnion。
  Theuprisingspreadrapidlyovertheentireterritoryofpresent—dayBaden。ApanicseizedthenobilityofUpperSuabia,whosemilitaryforceswereallengagedinItaly,inawaragainstFrancisIofFrance。Nothingremainedforitbuttogaintimebyprotractednegotiations,meanwhilecollectingmoneyandrecruitingtroops,pendingthemomentwhenitwouldfeelstrongenoughtopunishthepeasantsfortheiraudacityby"burningandscorching,plunderingandmurdering。"Fromthatmomenttherebeganthatsystematicbetrayal,thatconsistentrecoursetoperfidiousnessandsecretmalice,whichdistinguishedthenobilityandtheprincesthroughouttheentirePeasantWar,andwhichwastheirstrongestweaponagainstdecentralisedpeasants。TheSuabianUnion,comprisingtheprinces,thenobility,andtheimperialcitiesofSouthwestGermany,triedconciliatorymeasureswithoutguaranteeingthepeasantsrealconcessions。Thelattercontinuedtheirmovement。HansMuellerofBulgenbachmarched,fromSeptember30tothemiddleofOctober,throughtheBlackForestuptoUrachandFurtwangen,increasedhistroopsto3,500andtookapositionnearEratingen,notfarfromStuehlingen。Thenobilitybadnomorethan1,700menattheirdisposal,andeventhoseweredivided。Ithadtoagreetoanarmistice,whichwasconcludedinthecampatEratingen。Thepeasantswerepromisedapeacefulagreement,eitherdirectlybetweentheinterestedparties,orbymeansofanarbitrator,andaninvestigationofcomplaintsbythecourtatStockach。
  Thetroopsofboththenobilityandthepeasantsweredispersed。
  Thepeasantsformulatedsixteenarticles,theacceptanceofwhichwar,tobedemandedofthecourtatStockach。Thearticleswereverymoderate。
  Theyincludedabolitionofthehuntingright,ofserflabour,ofexcessivetaxesandmasterprivilegesingeneral,protectionagainstwilfularrestsandagainstpartisancourts。Thepeasants’demandswentnofarther。
  Nevertheless,immediatelyafterthepeasantswenthome,thenobilitydemandedcontinuationofallcontestedservicespendingthecourtdecision。
  Thepeasantsrefused,advisingthemasterstogotothecourt。Thustheconflictwasrenewed,thepeasantsreassembled,andtheprincesandmastersonceagainconcentratedtheirtroops。ThistimethemovementspreadfarovertheBreisgauanddeepintoWuerttemberg。ThetroopsunderGeorgTruchsessofWaldburg,theAlbaofthePeasantWar,observedthepeasants’movements,attackedindividualreinforcements,butdidnotdaretoattackthemainforce。GeorgTruchsessnegotiatedwiththepeasantchiefs,andhereandthereheeffectedagreements。
  BytheendofDecember,proceedingsbeganbeforethecourtatStockach。Thepeasantsprotestedagainstthecourt,composedentirelyofnobles。Inreply,animperialedicttothiseffectwasread。Theproceedingslagged,whilethenobility,theprincesandtheSuabianUnionauthoritieswerearmingthemselves。ArchdukeFerdinandwhodominated,besideshereditarylandsthenstillbelongingtoAustria,alsoWuerttemberg,theBlackForestandSouthernAlsace,orderedthegreatestseverityagainsttherebelliouspeasants。Theyweretobecaptured,mercilesslytorturedandkilled;theyweretobeexterminatedinthemostexpeditiousmanner;theirpossessionstobeburnedanddevastated,andtheirwivesandchildrendrivenfromtheland。Itwasinthatwaythattheprincesandmasterskeptthearmistice,andthisiswhatpassedforamicablearbitrationandinvestigationofgrievances。
  ArchdukeFerdinand,towhomthehouseofWelserofAugsburgadvancedmoney,armedhimselfverycarefully。TheSuabianUnionorderedaspecialtax,andacontingentoftroopstobecalledinthreeinstallments。
  Theforegoingrebellionscoincidedwiththefivemonths’presenceofThomasMuenzerintheHighland。Thoughtherearenodirectproofsofhisinfluenceovertheoutbreakandthecourseofthemovement,itis,nevertheless,indirectlyascertained。Themostoutspokenrevolutionariesamongthepeasantsweremostlyhisdisciples,defendinghisideas。TheTwelveArticles,aswellastheLetterofArticlesoftheHighlandpeasants,wereascribedtohimbyallthecontemporaries,althoughthefirstwascertainlynotcomposedbyMuenzer。Already,onhiswaybacktoThuringia,heissuedadecisiverevolutionarymanifestototheinsurgentpeasants。
  DukeUlrich,who,since1519,hadbeenanexilefromWuerttemberg;
  wasnowintriguingtoregainhislandwiththeaidofthepeasants。Sincethebeginningofhisexilebehadbeentryingtoutilisetherevolutionaryparty,andhadsupporteditcontinuously。Inmostofthelocaldisturbancestakingplacebetween1520and1524intheBlackForestandinWuerttemberg,hisnameappeared。NowhearmedhimselfdirectlyforanattackonWuerttembergtobelaunchedoutofhiscastle,Hohentweil。However,hewasonlyutilisedbythepeasantswithoutinfluencingthem,andwithoutenjoyingtheirconfidence。
  Thewinterpassedwithoutanythingdecisivehappeningoneitherside。Theprincelymasterswereinhiding。Thepeasantrevoltwasgainingscope。InJanuary,1525,theentirecountrybetweentheDanube,theRhineandtheLech,wasinastateoffermentation。InFebruary,thestormbroke。
  WhiletheBlackForestHegautroops,underHansMuellerofBulgenbach,wereconspiringwithUlrichofWuerttemberg,partlysharinghisfutilemarchonStuttgart(FebruaryandMarch,1525),thepeasantsaroseonFebruary9inRiedaboveUlm,assembledinacampnearBaltringenwhichwasprotectedbymarshes,hoistedtheredflag,andformed,undertheleadershipofUlrichSchmid,theBaltringentroop。Theywere10,000to12,000strong。
  OnFebruary25,theUpperAllgaeutroops,7,000strong,assembledatSchusser,movedbytherumourthattroopsweremarchingagainstthedissatisfiedelementswhohadappearedinthislocalityaseverywhereelse。
  ThepeopleofKempten,whohadconductedafightagainsttheirarchbishopthroughoutthewinter,assembledonthe26thandjoinedthepeasants。ThecitiesofMemmingenandKaufbeurenjoinedthemovementoncertainconditions。
  Theambiguityofthepositionofthecitiesinthismovementwasalreadyapparent。OnMarch7,thetwelveMemmingenarticleswereproclaimedinMemmingenforallthepeasantsofUpperAllgaeu。
  AmessagefromtheAllgaeupeasantsbroughtabouttheformationonLakeConstanceoftheLakeTroopunderEitelHans。Thistroopalsogrewfast。ItsheadquarterswereinBermatingen。
  ThepeasantsalsoaroseinLowerAllgaeuintheregionofOchsenbausenandSchellenberg,inthelocalitiesofZeilandWaldburg,andintheestatesofTruchsess。ThemovementstartedintheearlydaysofMarch。ThisLowerAllgaeutroop,whichconsistedof7,000men,campednearWurzach。
  AllthesetroopsadoptedtheMemmingenarticles,which,itmustbenoted,werestillmoremoderatethantheHegauarticles,manifesting,astheydid,aremarkablelackofdeterminationinpointsrelatingtotheattitudeofthearmedtroopstowardsthenobilityandthegovernments。
  Suchdetermination,wherevermanifested,appearedonlyinthelaterstagesofthewar,whenthepeasantslearnedtoknowfromexperiencethemodeofactionoftheirenemies。
  AsixthtroopwasformedontheDanube,simultaneouslywiththeothers。Fromtheentireregion,UlmtoDonauwoerth,fromthevalleysoftheIller,RothandBiber,thepeasantscametoLeipheim,andopenedcampthere。Fromfifteenlocalities,everyable—bodiedmanhadcome,whilereinforcementsweredrawnfrom117places。TheleaderoftheLeipheimtroopwasUlrichSchoen。ItspreacherwasJakobWehe,thepriestofLeipheim。
  Thus,atthebeginningofMarch,therewerebetween30,000and40,000insurgentpeasantsofUpperSuabiainsixcampsunderarms。Thepeasanttroopswereaheterogeneouslot。Muenzer’srevolutionarypartywaseverywhereintheminoritybutitformedthebackboneofthepeasantcamps。Themassofthepeasantswerealwaysreadytoventurecompactswiththemasterswherevertheywerepromisedthoseconcessionswhichtheyhopedtoforceupontheirenemiesbytheirmenacingattitude。Moreover,astheuprisingdraggedonandtheprinces’armiesbegantoapproach,thepeasantsbecameweary。Mostofthosewhostillhadsomethingtolose,wenthome。
  Addedtoallthedifficultieswasthefactthatthevagabondmassesofthelowgradeproletariathadjoinedthetroops。Thismadedisciplinemoredifficult,anddemoralisedthepeasants,asthevagabondswereanunreliableelement,comingandgoingallthetime。This,alone,issufficientexplanationwhy,atthebeginning,thepeasantsremainedeverywhereonthedefensive,whytheywerebecomingdemoralisedintheircamps,andwhy,asidefromtacticalshortcomingsandtherarityofgoodleaders,theycouldnotmatchthearmiesoftheprinces。
  Whilethetroopswereassembling,DukeUlrichinvadedWuerttembergfromHohentweilwithrecruitedtroopsandanumberofHegaupeasants。Werethepeasantsnowtoproceedfromtheotherside,fromWaldburgagainstTruchsess’troops,theSuabianUnionwouldhavebeenlost。Butbecauseofthedefensiveattitudeofthepeasanttroops,TruchsesssoonsucceededinconcludinganarmisticewiththoseofBaltringen,Allgaeu,andtheLake,startingnegotiationsandfixingadateforterminatingthewholeundertaking,namely,JudicaSunday(April2)。Inthemeantime,hewasabletoproceedagainstDukeUlrich,tobesiegeStuttgart,compellinghimtoleaveWuerttembergasearlyasMarch17。Thenheturnedagainstthepeasants,buttheLansquenetsrevoltedinhisownarmyandrefusedtoproceedagainstthepeasants。TruchsesssucceededinplacatingthedisgruntledsoldiersandmovedtowardsUlm,wherenewreinforcementswerebeinggathered。HeleftanobservationpostatKerchiefunderthesupervisionofTeck。
  AtlasttheSuabianUnion,withfreehandsandincommandofthe:firstcontingents,threwoffitsmask,declaringitself"tobeready,witharmsinhandandwiththeaidofGod,tochangethatwhichthepeasantswilfullyventured。"
  Thepeasantsadheredstrictlytothearmistice。OnJudicaSundaytheysubmittedtheirdemands,thefamousTwelveArticles,forconsideration。
  Theydemandedtheelectionandremovalofclergymenbythecommunities;
  theabolitionofthesmalltitheandtheutilisationofthelargetithe,aftersubtractionofthepriests’salaries,forpublicpurposes;theabolitionofserfdom,offishingandhuntingrights,andofdeathtolls;thelimitationofexcessivebondedlabour,taxesandgroundrents;therestitutionoftheforests,meadowsandprivilegesforciblywithdrawnfromthecommunitiesandindividuals,andtheeliminationofwflfulnessinthecourtsandtheadministration。Itisobviousthatthemoderateconciliatorysectionstillhadtheupperhandamongthepeasanttroops。Therevolutionarypartyhadformulateditsprogrammeearlier,intheLetterofArticles。Itwasanopenlettertoallthepeasantry,admonishingthemtojoin"theChristianAllianceandBrotherhood"forthepurposeofremovingallburdenseitherbygoodness,"whichwillhardlyhappen,"orbyforce,andthreateningallthosewhorefusetojoinwiththe"layanathema,"thatis,withexpulsionfromthesocietyandfromanyintercoursewiththeUnionmembers。Allcastles,monasteriesandpriests’endowmentswerealso,accordingtotheLetter,tobeplacedunderlayanathemaunlessthenobility,thepriestsandthemonksrelinquishedthemoftheirownaccord,movedintoordinaryhouseslikeotherpeople,andjoinedtheChristianAlliance。WeseethatthisradicalmanifestowhichobviouslyhadbeencomposedbeforetheSpringinsurrectionof1525,dealsinthefirstplacewiththerevolution,withcompletevictoryovertherulingclasses,andthatthe"layanathema"onlydesignatesthoseoppressorsandtraitorsthatweretobekilled,thecastlesthatweretobeburned,andthemonasteriesandendowmentsthatweretobeconfiscated,theirjewelstobeturnedintocash。
  BeforethepeasantssucceededinpresentingtheirTwelveArticlestothepropercourtsofarbitration,theylearnedthattheagreementhadbeenbrokenbytheSuabianUnionandthatitstroopswereapproaching。
  Stepsweretakenimmediatelybythepeasants。AgeneralmeetingofallAllgaeu,BaltringenandLakepeasantswasheldatGeisbeuren。Thefourdivisionswerecombinedandreorganisedintofourcolumns。Adecisionwasmadetoconfiscatethechurchestates,toselltheirjewelsinfavourofthewarchest,andtoburnthecastles。Thus,asidefromtheofficialTwelveArticles,theLetteroftheArticlesbecametheruleofwarfare,andJudicaSunday,designatedfortheconclusionofpeacenegotiations,becamethedateofgeneraluprising。
  Thegrowingagitationeverywhere,thecontinuedlocalconflictsofthepeasantswiththenobility,thenewsofagrowingrevoltintheBlackForestfortheprecedingsixmonthsandofitsspreaduptotheDanubeandtheLech,aresufficienttoexplaintherapidsuccessionofpeasantrevoltsintwo—thirdsofGermany。Thefact,however,thatthepartialrevoltstookplacesimultaneously,provesthatthereweremenattheheadofthemovementwhohadorganiseditthroughAnabaptistsandotheremissaries。
  AlreadyinthesecondhalfofMarch,disordersbrokeoutinWuerttemberg,inthelowerregionsoftheNeckarandtheOdenwald,andinUpperandMiddleFranconia。April2,JudicaSunday,however,hadalreadybeennamedeverywhereasthedayofthegeneraluprising,andeverywherethedecisiveblow,therevoltofthemasses,fellinthefirstweekofApril。TheAllgaeu,HegauandLakepeasantssoundedthealarmbellsonApril1,callingintothecampamassmeetingofallable—bodiedmen,andtogetherwiththeBaltringenpeasants,theyimmediatelyopenedhostilitiesagainstthecastlesandmonasteries。
  InFranconia,wherethemovementwasgroupedaroundsixcentres,theinsurrectionbrokeouteverywhereinthefirstdaysofApril。InNoerdlingentwopeasantcampswereformedaboutthattime,andtherevolutionarypartyofthecityunderAntonForner,aidedbythepeasants,gainedtheupperhand,appointingFornertheMayor,andcompletingaunionbetweenthecityandthepeasants。IntheregionofAnspach,thepeasantsrevoltedeverywherebetweenApril1and7,andfromheretherevoltsspreadasfarasBavaria。
  IntheregionofRottenburg,thepeasantswerealreadyunderarmsonMarch22。InthecityofRottenburgtheruleofthehonourableswasoverthrownbythelowermiddle—classandplebeiansunderStephanofMenzingen,butsincethepeasantdueswerethechiefsourceofrevenueforthecity,thenewgovernmentwasabletomaintainavacillatingandequivocalattitudetowardsthepeasants。IntheGrandChapterofWurzburgtherewasageneraluprising,earlyinApril,ofthepeasantsandthesmallcities。InthebishopricofBamberg,ageneralinsurrectioncompelledthebishoptoyieldwithinfivedays。IntheNorth,ontheborderofThuringia,thestrongBildhausenPeasantCampwasorganised。
  IntheOdenwald,whereWendelHipler,anobleandformerchancelloroftheCountofHohenlohe,andGeorgMetzler,aninnkeeperatBallenbergnearKrautheim,wereattheheadoftherevolutionaryparty,thestormbrokeoutonMarch26。ThepeasantsmarchedfromalldirectionstowardstheTauber。TwothousandmenfromtheRottenburgcampjoined。GeorgMetzlertookcommand,andhavingreceivedallreinforcements,marchedonApril4tothemonasteryofSchoenthalontheJaxt,wherehewasjoinedbythepeasantsoftheNeckarvalley。Thelatter,ledbyJaeckleinRohrbach,aninnkeeperatBoeckingennearHeilbronn,hadproclaimed,onJudicaSunday,theinsurrectioninFlein,Southeim,etc。,while,simultaneously,WendelHipler,withanumberofconspirators,tookOehringenbysurpriseanddrewthesurroundingpeasantsintothemovement。InSchoenthal,thetwopeasantcolumns,combinedintotheGayTroop,acceptedtheTwelveArticles,andorganisedexpeditionsagainstthecastlesandmonasteries。TheGayTroopwar,about8,000strong,andpossessedcannon,aswellas3,000guns。FlorianGeyer,aFranconianknight,alsojoinedthetroopandformedtheBlackHost,aselectdivisionwhichhadbeenrecruitedmainlyfromtheRottenburgandOehringeninfantry。
  TheWuerttembergmagistrateinNeckarsulm,CountLudwigvonHelfenstein,openedhostilities。Withoutmuchado,heorderedallpeasantsthatfellintohishandstobeexecuted。TheGayTroopmarchedagainsthim。ThepeasantswereembitteredbythemassacresaswellasbynewsofthedefeatoftheLeipheimTroop,ofJakobWehe’sexecution,andtheTruchsessatrocities。
  VonHelfenstein,whohadprecipitouslymovedintoWeinsberg,wasthereattacked。ThecastlewasstormedbyFlorianGeyer。Thecitywaswonafteraprolongedstruggle,andCountLudwigwastakenprisoner,aswereseveralknights。Onthefollowingday,April17,JaeckleinRohrbach,togetherwiththemostresolutemembersofthetroop,heldcourtovertheprisoners,andorderedfourteenofthem,withvonHelfensteinatthehead,torunthegauntlet,thisbeingthemosthumiliatingdeathhecouldinventforthem。ThecaptureofWeinsbergandtheterroristicrevengeofJaeckleinagainstvonHelfenstein,didnotfailtoinfluencethenobility。CountvonLoebensteinjoinedthePeasantAlliance。TheCountsvonHohenlohe,whohadjoinedpreviouslywithoutofferinganyaid,immediatelysentthedesiredcannonandpowder。
  ThechiefsdebatedamongthemselveswhethertheyshouldnotmakeGoetzvonBerlichingentheircommander"sincebecouldbringtothemthenobility。"Theproposalfoundsympathy,butFlorianGeyer,whosawinthismoodofthepeasantsandtheirchiefsthebeginningofreaction,secededfromthetroop,andtogetherwithhisBlackHost,marchedfirstthroughtheNeckarRegion,thentheWuerzburgterritory,everywheredestroyingcastlesandpriests’nests。
  TheremainderofthetroopmarchedfirsttowardsHeilbronn。Inthispowerfulandfreeimperialcity,thepatriciatewasconfronted,asalmosteverywhere,byamiddle—classandrevolutionaryopposition。Thelatter,insecretagreementwiththepeasants,openedthegatesbeforeG。MetzlerandJaeckleinRohrbach,onApril17,inthecourseofageneraldisturbance。Thepeasantchiefswiththeirpeopletookpossessionofthecity。Theyacceptedmembershipinthebrotherhood,anddelivered12,000
  guildersinmoneyandasquadofvolunteers。OnlythepossessionsoftheclergyandtheTeutonicOrderwerepillaged。Onthe22d,thepeasantsmovedaway,leavingasmallgarrison。Heilbronnwasdesignatedasthecentreofthevarioustroops,thelatteractuallysendingdelegatesandconferringovercommonactionsandcommondemandsofthepeasantry。Butthemiddle—classoppositionandthehonourableswhohadjoinedthemafterthepeasantinvasion,regainedtheupperhandinthecity,preventingitfromtakingdecisivestepsandonlywaitingfortheapproach,oftheprinces’troopsinordertobetraythepeasantsdefinitely。
  ThepeasantsmarchedtowardtheOdenwald。GoetzvonBerlichingenwho,afewdaysprevious,hadofferedhimselftotheGrandElectorPalatine,thentothepeasantry,thenagaintotheGrandElector,wascompelledonApril24tojointheEvangelistFraternity,andtotakeoverthesupremecommandoftheGayBrightTroop(incontrasttotheBlackTroopofFlorianGeyer)。Atthesametime,however,hewastheprisonerofthepeasantswhomistrustedhimandboundhimtoacouncilofchiefswithoutwhomhecouldundertakenothing。GoetzandMetzlermovedwithamassofpeasantsoverBuchentoArmorbach,wheretheyremainedfromApril30,untilMay5,arousingtheentireregionoftheMain。Thenobilitywaseverywherecompelledtojoin,andthusitscastleswerespared。Onlythemonasterieswereburnedandpillaged。Thetroopshadobviouslybecomedemoralised。
  Themostenergeticmenwereaway,eitherunderFlorianGeyerorunderJaeckleinRohrbach,who,afterthecaptureofHeilbronn,alsoseparatedhimselffromthetroops,apparentlybecausehe,judgeofCountvonHelfenstein,couldnolongerremainwithabodywhichwasinfavourofreconciliationwiththenobility。Thisinsistenceonanunderstandingwiththenobilitywasinitselfasignofdemoralisation。Later,WendelHiplerproposedaveryfittingreorganisationofthetroops。HesuggestedthattheLansquenets,whoofferedthemselvesdaily,shouldbedrawnintotheservice,andthatthetroopsshouldnolongerberenewedmonthlybyassemblingfreshcontingentsanddismissingoldones,butthatthoseofthemwhohadreceivedmoreorlessmilitarytrainingshouldberetained。Thecommunityassemblyrejectedbothproposals。Thepeasantshadbecomearrogant,viewingtheentirewarasnothingbutapillage。Theywantedtobefreetogohomeassoonastheirpocketswerefull,butthecompetitionoftheLansquenetspromisedthemlittle。InAmorbach,itwentsofarthatHansBerlin,amemberofthecouncilofHeilbronn,inducedthechiefsandthecouncilsofthetroopstoaccepttheDeclarationoftheTwelveArticles,adocumentwhereintheremainingsharpedgesoftheTwelveArticleswereremoved,andinwhich,alanguageofhumblesupplicationwasputintothemouthsofthepeasants。
  Thiswastoomuchforthepeasants,whorejectedtheDeclarationundergreattumult,andinsistedontheretentionoftheoriginalArticles。
  Inthemeantime,adecisivechangehadtakenplaceintheregionofWuerzburg。Thebishopwho,afterthefirstuprisingearlyinApril,hadwithdrawntothefortifiedFrauenbergnearWuerzburg,fromtheretosendunsuccessfullettersinalldirectionsaskingforaid,wasfinallycompelledtomaketemporaryconcessions。OnMay2,aDietwasopenedwiththepeasantsrepresented,butbeforeanyresultscouldbeachieved,letterswereinterceptedwhichprovedthebishop’straitorousmachinations。TheDietimmediatelydispersed,andhostilitiesbrokeoutanewbetweentheinsurgentcityinhabitantsandthepeasantsononehand,andthebishop’sforcesontheother。ThebishopfledtoHeidelbergonMay5,andonthefollowingdayFlorianGeyer,withtheBlackTroop,appearedinWuerzburgandwithhimtheFranconianTauberTroopwhichconsistedofthepeasantsofMergentheim,RottenburgandAnspach。OnMay7,GoetzvonBerlichingenwithhisGayBrightTroopscame,andthesiegeofFrauenbergbegan。
  InthevicinityofLimpurgandintheregionofEllwangenandHall,anothercontingentwasformedbytheendofMarchandthebeginningofApril,thatofGaildorfortheCommonGayTroop。Itsactionswereveryviolent。Itarousedtheentireregion,burnedmanymonasteriesandcastles,includingthecastleofHohenstaufen,compelledallthepeasantstojoinit,andcompelledallnobles,eventhecup—bearersofLimpurg,toentertheChristianAlliance。EarlyinMayitinvadedWuerttemberg,butwaspersuadedtowithdraw。TheseparatismoftheGermansystemofsmallstatesstoodthen,asin1848,inthewayofacommonactionoftherevolutionariesofthevariousstateterritories。TheGaildorftroop,limitedtoasmallarea,wasnaturallyboundtodispersewhenallresistancewithinthatareawasbroken。ThemembersofthistroopconcludedanagreementwiththecityofGmuend,andleavingonly500underarms,theywenthome。
  InthePalatinate,peasanttroopswereformedoneitherbankoftheRhinebytheendofApril。Theydestroyedmanycastlesandmonasteries,andonMay1theytookNeustadtontheHardt。TheBruchrainpeasants,whoappearedinthisregion,hadonthepreviousdayforcedSpeyertoconcludeanagreement。TheMarshalofZabern,withthefewtroopsoftheElector,waspowerlessagainstthem,andonMay10theElectorwascompelledtoconcludeanagreementwiththepeasants,guaranteeingthemaredressoftheirgrievances,tobeeffectedbyaDiet。
  InWuerttembergtherevolthadoccurredearlyinseparatelocalities。
  AsearlyasFebruary,thepeasantsoftheUrachAlpformedaunionagainstthepriestsandmasters,andbytheendofMarchthepeasantsofBlaubeuer,Urach,Muensingen,BalingenandRosenfeldrevolted。TheWuerttembergregionwasinvadedbytheGaildorftroopatGoeppingen,byJaeckleinRohrbachatBrackenheim,andbytheremnantsofthevanquishedLeipheimtroopatPfuelingen。ARthesenewcomersarousedtheruralpopulation。Therewerealsoseriousdisturbancesinotherlocalities。OnApril6,Pfuelingencapitulatedbeforethepeasants。ThegovernmentoftheAustrianArchdukewasinaverydifficultsituation。Ithadnomoneyandbutfewtroops。Thecitiesandcastleswereinabadcondition,lackinggarrisonsormunitions,andevenAspergwaspracticallydefenseless。Theattemptofthegovernmenttocalloutcityreservesagainstthepeasants,decideditstemporarydefeat。OnApril16thereservesofthecityofBottwarrefusedtoobeyorders,marching,insteadoftoStuttgart,toWunnensteinnearBottwar,wheretheyformedthenucleusofacampofmiddle—classpeopleandpeasants,andaddedothernumbersrapidly。OnthesamedaytherebellionbrokeoutinZabergau。ThemonasteryofMaulbronnwaspillaged,andanumberofmonasteriesandcastleswereruined。TheGaeupeasantsreceivedreinforcementsfromtheneighbouringBruchrain。
  ThecommandoftheWunnensteintroopwastakenbyMaternFeuerbacher,acouncillorofthecityofBottwar,oneoftheleadersofthemiddle—classoppositioncompromisedenoughtobecompelledtojointhepeasants。Inspiteofhisnewaffiliations,however,heremainedverymoderate,prohibitingtheapplicationoftheLetterofArticlestothecastles,andseekingeverywheretoreconcilethepeasantswiththemoderatemiddle—class。HepreventedtheamalgamationoftheWuerttembergpeasantswiththeGayBrightTroop,andafterwardshealsopersuadedtheGaildorftrooptowithdrawfromWuerttemberg。
  OnApril19hewasdeposedinconsequenceofhismiddle—classtendencies,butthenextdayhewasagainmadecommander。Hewasindispensable,andevenwhenJaeckleinRohrbachcame,onApril22,with200ofhisassociatestojointheWuerttembergpeasants,hecoulddonothingbutleaveFeuerbacherinhisplaceofcommander,confininghimselftorigidsupervisionofhisactions。
  OnApril18,thegovernmentattemptedtonegotiatewiththepeasantsstationedatWunnenstein。ThepeasantsinsisteduponacceptanceoftheTwelveArticles,butthisthegovernment’srepresentativesrefusedtodo。
  Thetroopnowproceededtoact。OnApril20,itreachedLaufen,where,forthelasttime,itrejectedtheoffersofthegovernmentdelegates。
  OnApril22,thetroops,numbering6,000,appearedinBietighein,threateningStuttgart。Mostofthecitycouncilhadfled,andacitizens’committeewasplacedattheheadoftheadministration。Thecitizenryherewasdivided,aselsewhere,betweenthepartiesofthehonourables,themiddle—classopposition,andtherevolutionaryplebeians。OnApril25,thelatteropenedthegatesforthepeasants,andStuttgartwasimmediatelygarrisonedbythem。HeretheOrganisationoftheGayChristianTroop(astheWuerttemberginsurgentscalledthemselves)wasperfected,andrulesandregulationswereestablishedforremuneration,divisionofbootyandalimentation。
  AdetachmentofStuttgarters,underTheusGerber,joinedthetroops。
  OnApril29,FeuerbacherwithallhismenmarchedagainsttheGaildorftroops,whichhadenteredtheWuerttembergregionatSchorndorf。
  HedrewtheentireregionintohisallianceandthuspersuadedtheGaildorftroopstowithdraw。Inthisway,hepreventedtherevolutionaryelementsofhismenunderRohrbachfromcombiningwiththerecklesstroopsofGaildorfandthusreceivingadangerousreinforcement。HavingbeeninformedofTruchsess’
  approach,heleftSchorndorftomeethim,andonMayIencampednearKerchiefunderTeck。
  WehavethustracedtheoriginandthedevelopmentoftheinsurrectioninthatportionofGermanywhichmustbeconsideredtheterritoryofthefirstgroupofpeasantarmies。Beforeweproceedtotheothergroups(ThuringiaandHesse,Alsace,AustriaandtheAlps)wemustgiveanaccountofthemilitaryoperationsofTruchsess,inwhichhe,aloneatthebeginning,latersupportedbyvariousprincesandcities,annihilatedthefirstgroupofinsurgents。WeleftTruchsessnearUlm,wherehecamebytheendofMarch,havingleftanobservationcorpsunderTeck,underthecommandofDietrichSpaet。Truchsess’corpswhichtogetherwiththeUnionreinforcementsconcentratedinUlmcountedhardly10,000,amongthem7,200infantrymen,wastheonlyarmyathisdisposalcapableofanoffensiveagainstthepeasants。
  ReinforcementscametoUlmveryslowly,dueinparttothedifficultiesofrecruitingininsurgentlocalities,inparttothelackofmoneyinthehandsofthegovernment,andalsotothefactthatthefewavailabletroopswereeverywhereindispensableforgarrisoningthefortressesandthecastles。WehavealreadyobservedwhatasmallnumberoftroopswereatthedisposaloftheprincesandcitiesthatdidnotbelongtotheSuabianUnion。EverythingdependeduponthesuccesseswhichGeorgTruchsesswithhisunionarmywouldscore。
  TruchsessturnedfirstagainsttheBaltringentroopswhich,inthemeantime,badbeguntodestroycastlesandmonasteriesinthevicinityofRied。Thepeasantswho,withtheapproachoftheUniontroopswithdrewintoRied,weredrivenoutofthemarshesbyanenvelopingmovement,crossedtheDanubeandranintotheravinesandforestsoftheSuabianAlps。Inthisregion,wherecannonandcavalry,themainsourceofstrengthoftheUnionarmy,wereoflittleavail,Truchsessdidnotpursuethemfurther。
  HemarchedinsteadagainsttheLeipheimtroopswhichnumbered5,000menstationedatLeipheim,4,000inthevalleyofMindel,and6,000atIllertissen,andwasarousingtheentireregion,destroyingmonasteriesandcastles,andpreparingtomarchagainstUlmwithitsthreecolumns。Itseemsthatacertaindemoralisationhadsetinamongthepeasantsofthisdivision,whichhadunderminedtheirmilitarymorale,forJakobWehetriedattheverybeginningtonegotiatewithTruchsess。Thelatter,however,nowbackedbysufficientmilitarypower,declinednegotiations,andonApril4attackedthemaintroopsatLeipheimandentirelydisruptedthem。JakobWeheandUIrichSchoen,togetherwithtwootherpeasantleaders,werecapturedandbeheaded。Leipheimcapitulated,andafterafewmarchesthroughthesurroundingcountry,theentireregionwassubdued。
  AnewrebellionoftheLansquenets,causedbyademandforplunderandadditionalremuneration,againstoppedTruchsess’activitiesuntilApril10,whenhemarchedsouthwestagainsttheBaltringentroopwhichinthemeantimehadinvadedhisestates,Waldburg,ZeilandWolfegg,andbesiegedhiscastles。Here,also,hefoundthepeasantsdisunited,anddefeatedthem,onApril11and12,oneaftertheother,invariousencounterswhichcompletelydisruptedtheBaltringentroops。ItsremnantswithdrewunderthecommandofthepriestFlorian,andjoinedtheLaketroops。Truchsessnowturnedagainstthelatter。TheLaketroopswhichinthemeantimehadmadenotonlymilitarymarchesbuthadalsodrawnthecitiesBuchhorn(Friedrichshafen)
  andWollmatingenintothefraternity,held,onApril13,abigmilitarycouncilinthemonasteryofSalem,anddecidedtomoveagainstTruchsess。
  Alarmbellsweresoundedand10,000men,joinedbythedefeatedremnantsoftheBaltringentroops,assembledinthecampofBermatingen。OnApril15theystoodtheirowninacombatwithTruchsess,whodidnotwishtoriskhisarmyinadecisivebattle,preferringtonegotiate,themoresosincehereceivednewstheapproachoftheAllgaeuandHegautroops。OnApril17,inWeingarten,heconcludedanagreementwiththeLakeandBaltringenpeasantswhichseemedquitefavourabletothem,andwhichtheyacceptedwithoutsuspicion。HealsoinducedthedelegatesoftheUpperandLowerAllgaeupeasantstoaccepttheagreement,andthenmovedtowardsWuerttemberg。
  Truchsess’cunningsavedhimherefromcertainruin。Hadhenotsucceededinfoolingtheweak,limited,forthemostpartdemoralisedpeasantsandtheirusuallyincapable,timidandvenalleaders,hewouldhavebeenclosedinwithhissmallarmybetweenfourcolumnsnumberingatleastfrom25,000to30,000men,andwouldhaveperished。Itwasthenarrow—mindednessofhisenemies,alwaysinevitableamongthepeasantmasses,thatmadeitpossibleforhimtodisposeofthemattheverymomentwhen,withoneblow,theycouldhaveendedtheentirewar,atleastasfarasSuabiaandFranconiawereconcerned。TheLakepeasantsadheredtotheagreement,whichfinallyturnedouttobetheirundoing,sorigidlythattheylatertookuparmsagainsttheirallies,theHegaupeasants。AndalthoughtheAllgaeupeasants,involvedinthebetrayalbytheirleaders,soonrenouncedtheagreement,Truchsesswasthenoutdanger。
  TheHegaupeasants,thoughnotincludedintheWeingartenagreement,gaveanewexampleoftheappallingnarrow—mindednessandthestubbornprovincialismwhichruinedtheentirePeasantWar。When,afterunsuccessfulnegotiationswiththem,Truchsess,movedtowardsWuerttemberg,theyfollowedhim,continuallypressinghisflank,butitdidnotoccurtothemtounitewiththeWuerttembergGayChristianTroop,becausepreviouslythepeasantsofWuerttembergandtheNeckarvalleyrefusedtocometotheirassistance。
  WhenTruchsesshadmovedfarenoughfromtheirhomecountry,theyreturnedpeacefullyandmarchedtoFreiburg。
  WelefttheWuerttembergpeasantsunderthecommandofMatemFeuerbacheratKerchiefbelowTeck,fromwheretheobservationcorpsleftbyTruchsesshadwithdrawntowardsUrachunderthecommandofDietrichSpaet。AfteranunsuccessfulattempttotakeUrach,FeuerbacherturnedtowardsNuertingen,sendingletterstoallneighbouringinsurgenttroops,callingreinforcementsforthedecisivebattle。ConsiderablereinforcementsactuallycamefromtheWuerttemberglowlandsaswellasfromGaeu。TheGaeupeasantshadgroupedthemselvesaroundtheremnantsoftheLeipheimtroopwhichhadwithdrawntoWestWuerttemberg,andtheyarousedtheentirevalleysofNeckarandNagoldtuptoBoetlingenandLeonberg。ThoseGaeupeasants,onMay5,cameintwostrongcolumnstojoinFeuerbacheratNuertingen。TruchsessmettheunitedtroopsatBoetlingen。Theirnumber,theircannonandtheirpositionperplexedhim。Asusual,hestartednegotiationsandconcludedanarmisticewiththepeasants。Butassoonashehadthussecuredhisposition,heattackedthemonMay12duringthearmistice,andforcedadecisivebattleuponthem。ThepeasantsofferedalongandbraveresistanceuntilfinallyBoetlingenwassurrenderedtoTruchsessowingtothebetrayalofthemiddle—class。Theleftwingofthepeasants,deprivedofitsbaseofsupport,wasforcedbackandencompassed。Thisdecidedthebattle。Theundisciplinedpeasantswerethrownintodisorderand,later,intoawildflight,thosethatwerenotkilledorcapturedbythehorsemenoftheUnionthrewawaytheirweaponsandwenthome。TheBrightChristianTroop,andwithittheentireWuerttemberginsurrectionwasgone。TheusGerberfledtoEsslingen,FeuerbacherfledtoSwitzerland,JaeckleinRohrbachwascapturedanddraggedinchainstoNeckargartach,whereTruchsessorderedhimchainedtoapost,surroundedbyfirewoodandroastedtodeathonaslowfire,whilehe,feastingwithhorsemen,gloatedoverthisnoblespectacle。
  FromNeckargartach,TruchsessgaveaidtotheoperationsoftheElectorPalatinebyinvadingKraichgau。HavingreceivedwordofTruchsess’
  successes,theElector,whomeanwhilehadgatheredtroops,immediatelybrokehisagreementwiththepeasants,attackedBruchrainonMay23,capturedandburnedMalschaftervigorousresistance,pillagedanumberofvillages,andgarrisonedBruchsal。AtthesametimeTruchsessattackedEppingenandcapturedthechiefofthelocalmovement,AntonEisenhut,whomtheElectorimmediatelyexecutedwithadozenotherpeasantleaders。BruchrainandKraichgauwerethussubjugatedandcompelledtopayanindemnityofabout40,000guilders。Botharmies,thatofTruchsessnowreducedto6,000meninconsequenceoftheprecedingbattles,andthatoftheElector(6,500
  men),unitedandmovedtowardstheOdenwald。
  WordoftheBoetlingendefeatspreadterroreverywhereamongtheinsurgents。Thefreeimperialcitieswhichhadcomeundertheheavyhandofthepeasants,sighedinrelief。ThecityofHeilbronnwasthefirsttotakestepstowardsreconciliationwiththeSuabianUnion。Heilbronnwastheseatofthepeasants’mainofficeandthatofthedelegatesofthevarioustroopswhodeliberatedovertheproposalstobemadetotheemperorandtheempireinthenameofalltheinsurgentpeasants。InthesenegotiationswhichweretolaydowngeneralrulesforallofGermany,itagainbecameapparentthatnoneoftheexistingestates,includingthepeasants,wasdevelopedsufficientlytobeabletoreconstructthewholeofGermanyaccordingtoitsownviewpoint。Itbecameobviousthattoaccomplishthis,thesupportofthepeasantryandparticularlyofthemiddle—classmustbegained。Inconsequence,WendelHiplertookovertheconductofthenegotiations。Ofalltheleadersofthemovement,WendelHiplerbadthebestunderstandingoftheexistingconditions。Hewasnotafar—seeingrevolutionaryofMuenzer’stype;hewasnotarepresentativeofthepeasantsaswereMetzlerorRohrbach;hismany—sidedexperiences,hispracticalknowledgeofthepositionofthevariousestatestowardseachotherpreventedhimfromrepresentingoneoftheestatesengagedinthemovementinoppositiontotheother。justasMuenzer,arepresentativeofthebeginningsoftheproletariatthenoutsideoftheexistingofficialOrganisationofsociety,wasdriventotheanticipationofcommunism,WendelHipler,therepresentative,asitwere,oftheaverageofallprogressiveelementsofthenation,anticipatedmodernbourgeoissociety。Theprinciplesthathedefended,thedemandsthatheformulated,thoughnotimmediatelypossible,werethesomewhatidealised,logicalresultofthedissolutionoffeudalsociety。Insofarasthepeasantsagreedtoproposelawsforthewholeempire,theywerecompelledtoacceptHipler’sprinciplesanddemands。Centralisationdemandedbythepeasantsthusassumed,inHeilbronn,adefiniteform,which,however,wasworldsawayfromtheideasofthepeasantsthemselvesonthesubject。
  Centralisation,forinstance,wasmoreclearlydefinedinthedemandsfortheestablishmentofuniformcoins,measuresandweights,fortheabolitionofinternalcustoms,etc。,indemands,thatistosay,whichweremuchmoreintheinterestsofthecitymiddle—classthanintheinterestsofthepeasants。Concessionsmadetothenobilitywereacertainapproachtothemodernsystemofredemptionandaimed,finally,totransformfeudallandownershipintobourgeoisownership。Inaword,sofarasthedemandsofthepeasantswerecombinedintoasystemof"imperialreform,"theydidnotexpressthetemporarydemandsofthepeasantsbutbecamesubordinatetothegeneralinterestsofthemiddle—classasawhole。
  WhilethisreformoftheempirewasstillbeingdebatedinHeilbronn,theauthoroftheDeclarationoftheTwelveArticles,HansBerlin,wasalreadyonhiswaytomeetTruchsess,tonegotiateinthenameofthehonourables,themiddle—classandthecitizenryonthesurrenderofthecity。Reactionarymovementswithinthecitysupportedthisbetrayal,andWendelHiplerwasobligedtoflee,aswerethepeasants。HewenttoWeinsbergwherebeattemptedtoassembletheremnantsoftheWuerttembergpeasantsandthosefewoftheGaildorftroopswhichcouldbemobilised。TheapproachoftheElectorPalatineandofTruchsess,however,drovehimoutofthereandhewascompelledtogotoWuerzburgtocausetheGayBrightTrooptoresumeoperations。
  Inthemeantime,thearmiesoftheUnionandtheElectorsubduedtheNeckarregion,compelledthepeasantstotakeanewoath,burnedmanyvillages,andstabbedorhangedallfleeingpeasantsthatfellintotheirhands。
  ToavengetheexecutionofHelfenstein,Weinsbergwasburned。
  ThetroopsthatwereassembledinfrontofWuerzburghadinthemeantimebesiegedFrauenberg。OnMay15,beforeagapwasmadebytheirfusillade,theybravelybutunsuccessfullyattemptedtostormthefortress。
  Fourhundredofthebestmen,mostlyofFlorianGeyser’shost,remainedintheditches,deadorwounded。Twodayslater,May17,WendelHiplerappearedandorderedamilitarycouncil。HeproposedtoleaveatFrauenbergonly4,000menandtoplacethemainforce,about20,000men,inacampatKrautheimontheJaxt,beforetheveryeyesofTruchsess,sothatallreinforcementsmightbeassembledthere。Theplanwasexcellent。Onlybykeepingthemassestogether,andbyanumericalsuperiority,couldonehopetodefeatthearmyoftheprinceswhichnownumberedabout13,000
  men。Thedemoralisationanddiscouragementofthepeasants,however,hadgonetoofartomakeanyenergeticactionpossible。GoetzvonBerlichingen,whosoonafterwardsopenlyappearedasatraitor,mayhavehelpedtoholdthetroopback。ThusHipler’splanwasneverputintoaction;thetroopsweredividedasever,andonlyonMay23didtheGayBrightTroopstartactionaftertheFranconianshadpromisedtofollowquickly。OnMay26,thedetachmentsoftheMargraveofAnspach,locatedinWuerzburg,werecalled,duetothewordthattheMargravehadopenedhostilitiesagainstthepeasants。Therestofthebesiegingarmy,withFlorianGeyser’sBlackTroop,tookpositionatHeidingsfeldnotfarfromWuerzburg。
  TheGayBrightTrooparrivedonMay24inKrautheiminaconditionfarfromgood。ManypeasantslearnedthatintheirabsencetheirvillageshadtakentheoathatTruchsess’behest,andthistheyusedasapretexttogohome。ThetroopsmovedfurthertoNeckarsulm,andonMay28startednegotiationswithTruchsess。AtthesametimemessengersweresenttothepeasantsofFranconia,AlsaceandBlackForest—Hegau,withthedemandtohurryreinforcements。FromNeckarsulmGoetzmarchedtowardsOehringen。
  Thetroopsmeltedfromdaytoday。GoetzvonBerlichingenalsodisappearedduringthemarch。Herodehome,havingpreviouslynegotiatedwithTruchsessthroughhisoldbrother—in—arms,DietrichSpaet,concerninghisgoingovertotheotherside。InOehringen,afalserumouroftheenemyapproachingthrewthehelplessanddiscouragedmassintoapanic。Thetroopwasrapidlydisintegrating,anditwaswithdifficultythatMetzlerandWendelHiplersucceededinkeepingtogetherabout2,000men,whomtheyagainledtowardsKrautheim。Inthemeantime,theFranconianarmy,5,000strong,hadcome,butinconsequenceofasidemarchoverLoewensteintowardsOehringen,orderedbyGoetzapparentlywithtreacherousintentions,itmissedtheGayTroopandmovedtowardsNeckarsulm。Thissmalltown,defendedbyadetachmentoftheGayBrightTroop,wasbesiegedbyTruchsess。TheFranconiansarrivedatnightandsawthefiresoftheUnionarmy,buttheirleadershadnotthecouragetobraveanattack。TheyretreatedtoKrautheim,wheretheyatlastfoundtheremainderoftheGayBrightTroop。Receivingnoaid,Neckarsulmsurrenderedonthe29thtotheUniontroops。Truchsessimmediatelyordered13peasantsexecuted,andwenttomeetthetroop,burning,pillagingandmurderingallalongthewaythroughthevalleysofNeckar,KocherandJaxt。Heapsofruinsandbodiesofpeasantshangingontreesmarkedhismarch。
  AtKrautheimtheUnionarmymetthepeasantswho,forcedbyaflankmovementofTruchsess,hadwithdrawntowardsKoenigshofenontheTauber。Heretheytooktheirposition,8,000innumber,with32cannon。
  Truchsessapproachedthem,hiddenbehindhillsandforests。Hesentoutcolumnstoenvelopthem,andonJune2,heattackedthemwithsuchasuperiorityofforcesandenergythatinspiteofthestubbornresistanceofseveralcolumnslastingintothenight,theyweredefeatedanddispersed。Aseverywhere,thehorsemenoftheUnion,"thepeasants’death,"weremainlyinstrumentalinannihilatingtheinsurgentarmy,throwingthemselvesonthepeasants,whowereshakenbyartillerygunfireandlanceattacks,disruptingtheirrankscompletely,andkillingindividualfighters。ThekindofwarfareconductedbyTruchsessandhishorsemenismanifestedinthefateof300
  Koenigshofmiddle—classmenunitedwiththepeasantarmy。Duringthebattle,allbutfifteenwerekilled,andoftheseremainingfifteen,fourweresubsequentlydecapitated。
  HavingthuscompletedhisvictoryoverthepeasantsofOdenwald,theNeckarvalleyandlowerFranconia,Truchsesssubduedtheentireregionbymeansofpunitiveexpeditions,burningentirevillagesandcausingnumberlessexecutions。FromtherehemovedtowardsWuerzburg。OnhiswayhelearnedthatthesecondFranconiantroopsunderthecommandofFlorianGeyerandGregorvonBurg—BernsheimwasstationedatSulzdorf。Heimmediatelymovedagainstthem。
  FlorianGeyer,who,aftertheunsuccessfulattemptatstormingFrauenberg,haddevotedhimselfmainlytonegotiationswiththeprincesandthecities,especiallywithRottenburgandMargraveCasimirofAnspach,urgingthemtojointhepeasantfraternity,wassuddenlyrecalledinconsequenceofwordoftheKoenigshofendefeat。HistroopswerejoinedbythoseofAnspachunderthecommandofGregorvonBurg—Bernsheim。Thelattertroopshadbeenonlyrecentlyformed。MargraveCasimirhadmanaged,intrueHohenzollernstyle,tokeepincheckthepeasantrevoltinhisregion,partlybypromisesandpartlybythethreatofamassingtroops。HemaintainedcompleteneutralitytowardsalloutsidetroopsaslongastheydidnotincludeAnspachsubjects。
  Hetriedtodirectthehatredofthepeasantsmainlytowardsthechurchendowments,throughtheultimateconfiscationofwhichhehopedtoenrichhimself。AssoonashereceivedwordoftheBoetlingenbattle,heopenedhostilitiesagainsthisrebelliouspeasants,pillagingandburningtheirvillages,andhangingorotherwisekillingmanyofthem。Thepeasants,however,quicklyassembled,andunderthecommandofGregorvonBurg—BernsheimdefeatedhimatWindsheim,May29。Whiletheywerestillpursuinghim,thecallofthehard—pressedOdenwaldpeasantsreachedthem,andtheyturnedtowardsHeidingsfeldandfromtherewithFlorianGeyer,againtowardsWuerzburg(June2)。StillwithoutwordfromtheOdenwald,theyleft5,000peasantsthere,andwiththeremaining4,000——manyhadrunaway——theyfollowedtheothers。ReassuredbyfalserumoursoftheoutcomeoftheKoenigshofenbattle,theywereattackedbyTruchsessatSulzdorfandcompletelydefeated。
  ThehorsemenandservantsofTruchsessperpetrated,asusual,aterriblemassacre。FlorianGeyerkepttheremainderofhisBlackTroop,600innumber,andbattledhiswaythroughthevillageofIngolstadt。Heplaced200meninthechurchandcemeteryand400inthecastle。HehadbeenpursuedbytheElectorPalatine’sforces,ofwhomacolumnof1,200mencapturedthevillageandsetfiretothechurch。Thosewhodidnotperishintheflameswereslaughtered。TheElector’stroopsthenfiredonthecastle,madeagapintheancientwall,andattemptedtostormit。Twicebeatenbackbythepeasantswhostoodhiddenbehindaninternalwall,theyshotthewalltopieces,andattemptedathirdstorming,whichwassuccessful。HalfofGeyser’smenweremassacred;withtheother200hemanagedtoescape。Theirbidingplace,however,wasdiscoveredthefollowingday(Whit—Monday)。
  TheElectorPalatine’ssoldierssurroundedthewoodsinwhichtheylayhidden,andslaughteredallthemen。Onlyseventeenprisonersweretakenduringthosetwodays。FlorianGeyeragainfoughthiswaythroughwithafewofhismostintrepidfightersandturnedtowardstheGaildorfpeasants,whohadagainassembledinabodyofabout7,000men。Uponhisarrival,hefoundthemmostlydispersed,inconsequenceofcrushingnewsfromeveryside。HemadealastattempttoassemblethedispersedpeasantsinthewoodsonJune9,butwasattackedbythetroops,andfellfighting。
  Truchsess,who,immediatelyaftertheKoenigshofenvictory,hadsentwordtothebesiegedFrauenberg,nowmarchedtowardsWuerzburg。Thecouncilcametoasecretunderstandingwithhimsothat,onthenightofJune7,theUnionarmywasinapositiontosurroundthecitywhere5,000
  peasantswerestationed,andthefollowingmorningtomarchthroughthegatesopenedbythecouncil,withoutevenliftingasword。BythisbetrayaloftheWuerzburg"honourables"thelasttroopsoftheFranconianpeasantsweredisarmedandalltheleadersarrested。Truchsessimmediatelyordered81ofthemdecapitated。HereinWuerzburgthevariousFranconianprincesappeared,oneaftertheother,amongthemtheBishopofWuerzburghimself,theBishopofBambergandtheMargraveofBrandenburg—Anspach。Thegraciouslordsdistributedtherolesamongthemselves。TruchsessmarchedwiththeBishopofBamberg,whopresentlybroketheagreementconcludedwithhispeasantsandofferedhisterritorytotheraginghordesoftheUnionarmy,whopillaged,massacredandburned。MargraveCasimirdevastatedhisownland。Teiningenwasburned,numerousvillageswerepillagedormadefuelfortheflames。IneverycitytheMargraveheldabloodycourt。InNeustadt,ontheAisch,heorderedeighteenrebelsbeheaded,intheBuergelMarch,forty—threesufferedasimilarfate。FromtherehewenttoRottenburgwherethehonourables,inthemeantime,hadmadeacounterrevolutionandarrestedStephanvonMenzingen。TheRottenburglowermiddle—classandplebeianswerenowcompelledtopayheavilyforthefactthattheybehavedtowardsthepeasantsinsuchanequivocalway,refusingtohelpthemtotheverylastmomentandintheirlocalnarrow—mindedegotisminsistingonthesuppressionofthecountrysidecraftsinfavourofthecityguilds,andonlyunwillinglyrenouncingthecityrevenuesflowingfromthefeudalservicesofthepeasants。
  TheMargraveorderedsixteenofthemexecuted,Menzingenamongthem。InasimilarmannertheBishopofWuerzburgmarchedthroughhisregion,pillaging,devastatingandburningeverywhere。Onhistriumphalmarchheordered256
  rebelstobedecapitated,anduponhisreturntoWuerzburghecrownedhisworkbydecapitatingthirteenmorefromamongtheWuerzburgrebels。